Lock mechanism



Oct. 27, 1953 F. NILSSON ,7

LOCK MECHANISM Filed Sept." 16, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR FABMNNILSSON arrolmsvs Oct. 27, 1953 F. NILSSON 2,656,707

LOCK MECHANISM Filed Sept. 16, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FABIANNILSSON Patented Oct. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCKMECHANISM Fabian Nilsson, Stockholm, Sweden Application September 16,1948, Serial No. 49,47 9 In Sweden September 29, 1947 3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to such mechanisms, for instance lockmechanisms, which comprise a shiftable member, for instance a catch forthe bolt of a lock, which can be shifted only by the aid of a key whichsuits the individual mechamsm.

In hitherto known lock mechanisms and other mechanisms of the kind setforth the appertaining keys are comparatively heavy and take up a greatdeal of room, at least when burglar-proof mechanisms are concerned, sothat only a limited number of keys can conveniently be carried in thesame bunch of keys. This is an inconvenience which is particularlyserious in such cases where one and the same person has to take care ofa very great number of keys, for example newspaper distributors, whichmust have front door keys to all the houses where newspapers are to bedelivered early in the morning, night Watchmen, concierges, cashiers, etcetera.

The present invention has for its object to provide a mechanism of thekind set forth in which the said inconveniences are avoided by makingthe key for the mechanism in the shape of thin, in some cases flexibleband of steel or other suitable material. The mechanism proper maycomprise, in accordance with the invention, a number of individuallygrouped locking pins, which extend transversely to a guide for thebandshaped key and are adapted normally to lock the member, which is tobe shifted or released by means of the key, and to enter, on theinsertion of the correct key in the guide, into correspondingly groupedperforations in the key while releasing the said member. In suchmechanism even a single one or a small number of locking pins may beplaced or grouped in a very great number of different ways, bothlongitudinally and transversely of the key guide, so that the possiblenumber of keys having mutually different positionings and/orcombinations of perforations becomes very great.

In case a still greater number of variation possibilities is requiredthan is obtainable by increasing the number of locking pins and thenumber of perforations of each key, such an increase is readilyobtainable in accordance with the invention by making those ends of thelocking pins which co-operate with the perforations of the key withdifferent diameters and/or forms and shapes the perforations in the keyin a corresponding manner. As a matter of fact, so many mutuallydifferent mechanisms and keys respectively may be made in accordancewith the invention, that it is entirely out of the question that theshiftable member of the mechanism could be released or shiftedrespectively by any person other than the one who is in possession ofthe correct key, this being true even if the keys are made so small thatseveral hundred keys may be conveniently carried in the same bunch ofkeys.

In a particularly suitable embodiment of the mechanism according to theinvention the looking pins are adapted to enter the perforations of thecorrect key with reduced end portions only, the key guide being thenprovided, on the side opposite the locking pins, with one or morelocking teeth which are engaged by the locking pins if a key havingcorrectly placed or grouped, but too large, perforations is used, sothat the shifting of the member in question or the continued insertionof the key into the key guide is prevented.

Particularly, when it is desired not only to release but also to shift amember in the mechanism by means of the key, for instance when it isdesired to displace a catch for a lock bolt from its looking to itsnon-locking position, the mechanism according to the invention maysuitably be made so that on the insertion of the key into the key guidethe member is first released and is thereafter shifted by the key duringthe continued movement of the key along the guide. The looking pins maythen be arranged so as to couple together normally the member, which isto be released and shifted by means of the key, with a member which isarranged for limited movement together with the first mentioned memberon the insertion of the key into the key guide and consecutively toleave the engagement with the latter member, so that the member inquestion may be moved past the limit position of the member having alimited movement by inserting the key further into the key guide.

In the mechanism according to the invention the locking pins may beradially guided in a member, which is rotatable about a fixed axis, andthe key guide may be designed to follow a circle which is concentricwith the said axis, but also mechanisms having a straight or othernoncircular key guide and locking pins extending transversely to suchguides are conceivable.

Two embodiments of a mechanism according to the invention areillustrated by was of example on the attached drawings.

On such drawings:

Figure 1 is an axial section through the first embodiment.

Figures Za-d are cross sections on the line IIII in Figure l and showthe various movable parts in four different positions.

Figure 3 is an elevation showing the mechanism as viewed in thedirection of the arrows III-III in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of an appertaining key.

Figure 5 shows, for the sake of comparison, a plan view of a key whichdoes not suit the mechamsm.

the embodiment of the mechanism according to the invention illustratedtherein. comprises a permanently closed housing H) in the form of acylindrical flat box.

annular recess I2 in one of its side faces, so that a hub portion 13 anda rim portion [4 are formed, and with a cylindrical axial bore 15.

Inserted'in the axial bore l5-is a' journal Itprovided with a flange I!having a circular slot |87into which engages a stop pin [9 on thehousing, soithatthe journal I6 is turnable with respect instance.

Disposed in a recess 23 in the journal E5 is a leaf'spring 2 3, which issecured to the surrounding hub I3 and is adapted to press with its freeend against the plane bottom of the recess so as to hold the wheel lland-the journal 16 yieldingly in the relative angular positions shown inFigures Za-c.

In-addition, the wheel H and the journal 16 are normally positivelycoupled together by means of a number'of, in the shown example two;radially extending locking pins 25 and 2G which are longitudinallydisplaceable in the wheel and are adapted to enter with their free endscorresponding bores 2i and 28 in the journal I8.- Leaf springs, which atone of their ends'are rigidly secured to the rim portion is of thewheeland are adapted to press with their other ends againsta-shoulder30- on the respective lockingpins, endeavour to move the locking pinsoutof engagement with the bores in the journal.- The locking pins are,however, normally held inserted'in the bores due to the fact that theirouter ends abutagainst a guide surface 3! onrthehousing lbformed by aflange 32 on the lid portion of the housing, said flange 32 projectinginto a-corresponding annular recess 33- in the outer cylindrical surfaceof the wheel rim [4.

The flange 32 is interrupted between the points 34 and 35, so that thereis formed between the housing H] and the wheel rim 14 a channel 36 ofrectangular cross section, said channel serving as .a key guide, Betweenthe point 34 and a point 3.1there is provided, right opposite the guide,a somewhat narrower circumferentially extending groove 38 in thecylindrical wall of the housing, and at the bottom of said groove thereare providedlocking teeth 39. At the point 34 there is providedin thewall of the housing a rectangular opening 40 which smoothly connects tothe channel 36 and through which there may be inserted into ,saidchannela key in the formof a flexible steel band 4| which fits accurately inthe channel. Provided on the wheel II is an abutment 42,

Turnably, mounted. the. housing or box H] is a wheel ll provided withan;

which in the normal position of the wheel lies a short distance in frontof the key opening 40 and against which the end of the key 4| is adaptedto abut.

As will be clear from Figure 6, which shows a locking pin on an enlargedscale, the locking pins are provided at their outer ends with a reducedportion 43 of such a length that a shoulder 44 is formed on the pin at adistance from its outer end which somewhat exceeds the depth to whichthe pinswith their inner ends enter the lockingholes inthe journal IS.The locking pins areiadapted to enter with said reduced end portions 43.corresponding perforations 45 in the key ii'when the latter is insertedinto the key guide 36 through the key opening 40, as will be clearfromthe following description of the manner of operation of themechanism;

' Whenthe key 41 is inserted throughthekey. opening 46 into the keyguide 36-it engages with itsend the abutment 42 on the wheel. I] andcompels said wheel to turn clockwise with regard to Figure 2a whilecarrying along the journal lfi coupled therewith. The locking pins-2.5'=and-2'6 then slide with their outer ends along theguide surface3|, while the band-shaped key isbent:to conform-to the circular keyguide. andto form with-its inner surface a direct continuation: of thefixed guide surface 3| on the. housing 10'. When the wheel H has beenturnedlso far that the first locking pin 25. isabout'to slide oh theguide surface 3|, the first perforation 45in the key 4| has been movedright opposite thelocking pin, so that said pin, under the action of itsspring 22, enters the perforation with its reduced end 43 and engagestheinner sideof the key band with its abutting surface 44. This movement issufficient to permit the inner end of the locking pin entirely to leavethe locking hole 21 in the journal 15, but itis not sufficiently largefor the outer end of the locking pin to reach the k-. ingteeth 39 onthehousing [0. On continued insertion of the keyii into thekey guide 36,the rotationofthe wheelil is thuscontinued, permitting the pin26to enterthe second'perforas tion in the key.

The positive coupling together of the wheel. H and the journal iE-hasnow ceased, so that there'- afterthe journatit will follow the wheelonly onaccount of the resilient couplingby means .of the leaf spring 24.Soon afterthe last locking pin- 25 has left the journallfi', the limitpin- [9 secured in the housing will engage with theother end-of the slot18in the flange on the journal, sothat further turningof the journall6.:is rentdered impossible. On'further insertion of. the key into thekeyguide, only the wheel I I will thus turn. Said latter portion of themovement of the-wheell l, duringwhich the pin 2| projecting through thewall of 1 the-housingmoves between the positions A and B in Figure 3,constitutes the useful shifting movement and may beutilized for variouspractical purposes, for example to remove -a catch forthe bolt ofa:lockin'g mechanism, not shown, for-closing an electric contact in anoperating circuit, et cetera.

In a mechanism orthe kind set forththe perforations 45 in the key 4!must not only beplaced in a correct mutual grouping and at a correctdistance from the endof-the key, but theperforations mustalso=havethecorrect sizeand shape, i. e; they must be large enough topermit the'reduced end portions 43 of the locking pins 25 andx26-to passbut they must'not be so large that the movements-of the'lockin'g pinsare not stopped by the key band through engagement with the abuttingsurfaces 44 of the pins. In case one of the perforations in the keyshould be too large, the locking pin would move too far outwards andengage a locking tooth 39 on the housing, thus preventing a continuedinsertion of the key. If it is attempted to use a key having too smallor wrongly grouped perforations, for example the key according to Figure5, or a key which is entirely void of perforations, the locking pinscannot leave the locking holes in the journal |6, wherefore the latterremains rigidly coupled with the wheel so that the journal, after it hasreached its limit position, will prevent further turning of the wheel H,i. e. it will prevent the wheel from performing the useful or activeportion of its movement.

In a mechanism according to the invention the locking pins may inpractice be made very thin, for example of the order of magnitude of .5millimeter in diameter, and the key may be made correspondingly narrowand short. The selected thickness of the key should not be greater thanis necessary to assure that the key is sufficiently rigid to be able tocatch and retain the locking pins and to transmit a sufiicient force forshifting the wheel II and the lock bolt catch or the like coupledtherewith. If the key is made of band steel or other suitable material,a thickness of only .1 millimeter will in many cases be suflicient.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 'Ia-c and 8 having a straightguide for the key there is provided in a housing 50 a slide which islinearly displaceable against the action of a spring I 52 from thenormal position shown in Figure 7a to the limit position shown in Figure'70. In the slide 5| the member 53, which is to be actuated by means ofa key, is in turn linearly slideable against the action of a spring 54from the normal position shown in Figures 7a and b to the limit positionshown in Figure 70. In the same plane with the underside of thekey-operated member 53 there are provided in the opposite walls of thehousing two grooves 55, which form a straight guide for a band-shapedkey 56. For cooperation with the end of the key an abutment 51 isprovided on the member 53.

The slide 5| and the key-operated member 53 are normally coupledtogether by means of a locking pin 58, which extends transversely to thekey guide and is axially moveable in corresponding bores 59 and 60 inthe slide and member respectively. The locking pin 58 is, similarly tothe locking pins of the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 6, providedat its lower end with a reduced portion 6|, so that an annular abuttingsurface 62 is formed near the lower end of the locking pin. Against theupper end of the locking pin abuts an auxiliary pin 63 which is axiallymoveable in the bore 59. For cooperation with the upper end of saidauxiliary pin there is provided a leaf spring 54, which is rigidlysecured at one end in the housing 50 and the free end of which is bentto form an inclined surface 65.

For shifting the locking pin 58 to the coupling position shown in Figure7a and for holding the pin in said position there is provided a thinplate 66 which is moveable in a slot 61 in the key-operated member 53,said slot being parallel with the key guide. The plate 65, which at itsrear edge permanently projects outside the slot 61, is provided with acircular hole 68 for the locking pin, and the latter is provided rightopposite the said hole with a notch having an inclined sliding surface69 adapted for cooperation with the edge of the hole.

In the bottom of the housing wall right opposite the path of movement ofthe locking pin there is arranged an elongated recess 10 provided with aplurality of locking teeth H. The bottom of the recess merges via aninclined sliding surface 12 with a surface I3 which coincides with theunderside of the key.

The mechanism shown in Figures 'la-c and 8 operates in the followingmanner.

On insertion of the key 56 through the keyhole the key engages with itsinner end the abutment 51 and pushes the parts 5| and 53 which arecoupled together by means of the locking pin 58 to the left whilecompressing the spring 52. The auxiliary pin 63 then enters intoengagement with the inclined surface 65 on the leaf spring 64, theauxiliary pin 63 and thus also the locking pin 58 being then presseddown through the holes 59 and 60. If a correct key has been inserted inthe key-hole, a perforation in the key will then be positioned rightopposite the reduced end 3| of the locking pin, so that the locking pincan enter the perforation with said end and place itself with itsannular abutment surface 62 against the upper side of the key band 56,as is clearly seen in Figure 7b. The contact surface between the lockingpin 58 and the auxiliary pin 53 is now positioned in the same plane asthe sliding surface between the slide 5| and the key-operated member 53,so that the positive coupling together between said parts has ceased.Under the action of the spring 54, which is more powerful than thespring 52, the member 53 will remain in its normal position relativelyto the slide 5|, however, pressed against an abutment H on the slide,and carry along the slide during its movement until the slide with thefront edge of the thin plate 49, with which it is coupled together bymeans of the auxiliary pin 63, abuts against a fixed abutment 15 on thehousing 50. On further insertion of the key the member 53 is displacedalong the slide 5| while compressing the spring 54, as seen in Figure7c, the: auxiliary pin 53 being then, on account of clamping actionbetween the plate 49 and the pin, retained in the position shown in thesaid figure. The latter movement of the member 53, which constitutes theuseful movement, may be transmitted by means of the pin 15, whichprojects through the housing wall, to e. g. the catch for the bolt of alock mechanism, not shown.

When the locking pin 58 was moved downwards through the bore in themember 53 the plate 66 was, due to cooperation between the inclinedsurface 69 on the pin and the edge of the hole 68 in the plate 66,forced to move further out of the slot 61 to the position shown inFigures 7b and 10.

When thereafter the key 55 is retracted from the key guide, the member53 first returns to its normal position with respect to the slide 5|under the action of the spring 56. the slide 5| and the member 53 aredisplaced further as a single body under the action of the spring 52.Near the end of said movement the plate 66 abuts on the housing 5|), theedge of the hole 68 is pressed against the inclined surface 69 on thelocking pin 58 and the latter is forced upwards and into the bore 59 inthe slide 5|, the lower end of the locking pin being then simultaneouslypulled out of the perforation in the key. The parts have now returned totheir normal positions according to Figure 1a and the key may be takenentirely out of the mechanism.

Thereupon member. and with respect to:

amid? If somebody shouldt'ry' to use a"key,having, an incorrectly,positioned, perforation, the locking pin 58lcan. evidently. never bemoved j'down out of'fth'e bore 59 in the slide. and iconsequently,thencoupling between. theislide 5]:and'1ithe key;- operated. member 531' cannot .be'. released: which. according. to the above, is necessary;if. the slid shall be able to'perform the last and useful. part of its.movement. I

If instead an attempt is made-to .use aikey hayling, too large. a..per-forationrconsisting,e, .g. .of "a correctly;- placed. circular holehaving at 'least the samediameter as themain portion. of. the look: ingpin 58-; the .-.1ock'ing.,pin .willcnot beearrested by thelkey butwil-Lbe. pressed-1 so fardown under the-actionnof' theusp'ri'ng- 64 thatits lower end enters into engagement with. the first locking tooth.atthe bottomaof.thehousing 53'. Eurthen displacement-oi. the member 53:is hereby prevented, so that said: member cannot even startitstuseful,movements Although the invention has. been described above. asapplied -tomechanisms havinga-keyoperated member in the shape of atturna-bly mounted-wheel anda; circular guide for a flexible key,,and ina. mechanism. having a-rectilinearly displaceable key opera-tedmemberanda straight keysguide,,it.-is,';,of. course, not limited; tosaid embodiments butthe inventive idea maybe realized also in otherwaysthan those shown on the drawings .-and=described in detail above.-

I. claim-z. V I V I 1'. A=lock-;mechanism comprising in, combina; tion,a housing, aqguideway in-saidhousing for a band-shaped. key;havingaaperforation therein,. a"first member. guided for movementin saidvhousing; a=1second member guided for movement in said. hOusingandJWithrespect to said, first member locking; pin. means extending transverselyof said key-gnideway and reciprocable in bore: -means:;in*;said'firstand second members; said locking, pinmeans being normally posi+tioned to couple: together. said. first and, second members for unitarymovement, an abutment extending; from said second: member; into saidkey, guideway;forsengagementiby said. key; when slidably, insertedtherein,- means for limiting the movement of: said". first member with:respectzto said housing; spring, biased .means, for" axially displacing'said ;locking-; pin means into -the: peri foration' of: said key;-during movement of; said first member from its-initial:positiontojtslime itpositiomsaidlocking pin means being arrested in' its movementinto said perforation. when it reaches a position to release saidsecondi'memher. from said first member for permitting said second memberto move relative to saidzfirst said housing" upon further insertion ofsaid key, means forrestore ing. saidsecond member to its initialposition with-respect to said -.first.member upon apreedeterminedwithdrawalof saidkey, means. for preventing themovement-inone direction of said second. member relativetosaid first memberfr'omsaid initial position, and means operable upon. a. further. and.predetermined withdrawal of said. key; to causel-said locking pinmeansrt0 move: back. to said; normal locking position.

2.1 A Jock, mechanism comprising incombina: tion, a-.housing, a guidewayin said housingafor a... band =shaped key; having a perforation there?in, ,a..fi'r st member guided for: movement in:.said housing, ,asecondmember guided .formovement in :said housing, and .withrespect tosaid;.first member.- locking; in means. extending, transeverselyi tosaidtlkeyguideway-and reciprocablgin' b'ore means "in; said first. andsecond. members, said lockingpin means' beingnormally positioned tocouple together, said" first and second members for; joint. movement;van abutment extend; from... said. second; member, into said keygllidway. for engagement by. the key when slid-J ably inserted. therein,means. for, limiting, the movement L ofjs'aid. first; member with.respect to saidfhbusihgh meansidr axially. displacing. said lockingvpinamieanspinto the perforationof said key, during, movement atsaidfi'rst. member. from itsjnitial position to. its. limitpositibn,said ,lock'e m m means being; arrestedlin its,movement into. said'perforation .when..itreaches a position to release said second memberfromsaidlfi'rlst memberpior. permitting saidlsecondmiemben. to move with.respectto .saidfirst. member andwith respect: to saidhousihg ,upon.further. insertion of saidkey, meansyfor restoring.v second member toits initial. positionwith, respectto said; first... member. upon. apredetermined with= drawal of the key, means for preventing.movementinonerdirection of. said second member relative to. said firstmember from said initial position, andme ansafor; restoringsaid lockingpin means to; its normaLlock-ing, positioniupon withdrawal of said. key;from said lock mechanism.

3. A lock mechanism comprising in combina: tion; a housingiguidewaymeans in saidhousing for. guiding a key having, perforation means, afirst member guided for movement. in said housing, a second-membergui-dedcfor movement in said.housingwitlrv respect to said first memberand parallel withr-saidkey guideway means looking pin means extendingtransversely to said key guidewayl andreciprocableein bore means in.said first and second-members, said lockingp in means being arrangednormally to couple together said first and said second; members for JQnt; move, ment,. abutment meansassociated withsaid sec ond member.andextending-into the guideway for engagement by saidkey'. when thelatter is being inserted into said housingand along ,said guide! way,-meansfon limiting the, movement of said first member with respect-tosaid housing, means operable. in. response;- to the movement of, saidfirst member intor its. arrested. position and against said means for;limiting the movement thereof withrespectto said housing-for bringingaboutmovement .of-saidlockingpin means; axi-= ally, for releasingthe-interlocking engagement of said. pin with said. members permittinsaid sec? and member to moverelativeto said firstmember and-withrespect.to.said.-housing, means for restoring .saidsecondmember to itsinitial position with. respect-to. said firstmember upon a' prede-vtermined withdrawal of said key, means for pre: venting. thermovementin. one direction offsaid second.--. member. relative; to said firstmember from; said; iinitial position, and means: operable upon. afurther andipredetermined withdrawal tof said-key, tooausesaidlocking-pinmeans tomove backto said normal locking position.

EABIA'N' NILSSON;

R'frencesflited in the nieof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

